About Kirkland & Ellis

At Kirkland & Ellis, we are united in our ambition and drive to move forward. We share core values that help us achieve excellence: collaboration, talent empowerment, service, inclusion, respect and gratitude. Our people are our greatest asset, and we invest in the brightest talent and encourage a diversity of perspectives and strengths to create dynamic teams that operate at the pinnacle of their field. Our talented professionals show up every day knowing they will engage in meaningful work, continuous learning and professional development.

As one of the world's leading law firms, we serve a broad range of clients with market-leading practices in private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions; investment fund formation and alternative asset management; restructurings; high-stakes commercial and intellectual property litigation; and government, regulatory and internal investigations. We handle the most complicated and sophisticated legal matters because we don't just meet industry standards, we create them. We bring innovation and entrepreneurialism to every engagement and, as a result, have long-standing client relationships with leading global corporations and financial sponsors. With 6,500 employees (including more than 3,500 lawyers) operating from 21 offices across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we are one of the largest law firms in the world and a top financial performer.

Essential Job Functions

Lead the Future of Finance & Paralegal Talent at Kirkland & Ellis

Are you a strategic, people-driven leader ready to make a lasting impact? At Kirkland & Ellis, we are transforming the way we attract and hire talent, and we're looking for a Talent Acquisition Lead for our Finance and Paralegal departments to be at the heart of that transformation. This is your opportunity to shape the future of our teams, partnering closely with senior leaders to design innovative strategies that attract the very best talent to our firm.

Why This Role Matters

As a Talent Acquisition Lead, you will not just recruit - you'll lead, inspire, and shape the way we bring talent into our Finance and Paralegal departments across all levels. You'll be the trusted advisor and driving force behind all finance and paralegal-related recruitment, collaborating with HR and leadership to optimize processes, promote inclusive hiring practices, and make impactful hiring decisions.

At Kirkland & Ellis, we value growth and collaboration, and you'll be empowered to bring your ideas to life. If you're passionate about talent, diversity, and building strong teams, this role is for you.

Your Impact: Key Responsibilities

Drive Strategy: Lead the creation of finance and paralegal-specific talent acquisition strategies, building innovative programs and sourcing pipelines to attract top talent to two critical departments within the firm.
Shape Processes: Establish a world-class recruiting process that ensures efficiency and consistency, from candidate assessments to interviewer training.
Lead a Team: Manage and mentor a team of three recruiters, providing the vision, guidance, and support needed to help them succeed. Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to track team success.
Manage Requisition Allocation: Assign requisitions within your team, ensuring equitable workloads and calling in additional support as needed during heavy hiring periods.
Own Senior Hiring: Take charge of hiring for senior-level positions, managing all stages of the candidate journey, including oversight of search firm partners as needed.
Champion Diversity & Inclusion: Collaborate with HR and TA leadership to implement a robust DEI strategy, ensuring hiring practices are inclusive and teams are trained to assess candidates equitably.
Collaborate Across Teams: Work hand-in-hand with Compensation, HR, and other departments to develop compensation benchmarks, retention strategies, and onboarding processes.
Optimize Recruitment Systems: Leverage cutting-edge technology and tools like ATS and LinkedIn Talent Insights to enhance recruitment efficiency and deliver superior results.
Manage External Relationships: Build strong partnerships with third-party recruiting firms, holding them accountable for performance while reducing reliance on external support.
Be a Market Expert: Stay on top of finance and paralegal talent market trends, providing strategic insights to ensure Kirkland & Ellis remains competitive in attracting the best talent.

Qualifications & Requirements

What You'll Bring

Extensive experience in talent acquisition, with demonstrated success in leading large, geographically dispersed recruiting teams, partnering with senior staff and managing full-cycle recruitment for senior roles.
Operational expertise and a keen eye for process improvement and optimization.
Proven ability to engage and influence senior leaders while navigating complex hiring scenarios.
Strong relationship-building skills across all levels, internally and externally.
Expertise with ATS and CRM platforms, with a data-driven approach to talent acquisition.
Excellent communication skills to keep stakeholders aligned and informed.

Location Format

This is a hybrid role, requiring in-office presence at our Chicago office at least 3 days per week.

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."

Equal Employment Opportunity

All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee's race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Closing Statement

The www.kirkland.com job postings and recruiting mailbox are for candidates only. If you are a recruiter, search firm or employment agency, and do not have a signed contract with Kirkland & Ellis LLP ("K&E") and have not been asked specifically to submit candidates, you will not be compensated in any way for your referral of a candidate even if K&E hires the candidate. Direct contact with K&E employees in an attempt to present candidates is inappropriate and will be a factor in determining any future professional relationship with the Firm.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

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